Sanctioned / Authorised Training for Spearfishing

Codes of Practice

Prepared with assistance of many contributors – Version February 2022

Training for spearfishing events for AUF Members may include: professional instruction; pool training; ocean training; spearfishing; skills enhancement; scouting / exploration; running / jogging / walking; and suitable gym work. These activities and fitness regimes should always be undertaken with at least another responsible competent person in attendance.

AUF Members should notify a competent person or other authority of their planned training event and log in and out with such person or authority who should be instructed in what actions to take if something goes wrong.

Whilst undertaking training for a spearfishing event:

AUF Members must abide by these AUF Codes of Practice.
AUF Members whilst training will always be accompanied whilst in the water with a ‘buddy’ spearfisher or competent swimmer.
When training as an individual (ie for individual events, traditional pairs events or teams events) each AUF Member must have a complying float / flag as defined in the ‘A Section Rules‘ and each person must remain in sight of their buddies float, and check on their buddies surface position frequently to suit the conditions.
When training for “True Pairs” events the two buddies are to share one common complying float / flag where one diver who is taking a turn on the surface is attached to the float by a float line. This diver must not dive except in emergencies and always stay attached to and close to the float. The diver taking the turn to dive whilst practicing spearfishing must be attached by a line not exceeding 40 metres. This line to be attached to either the diver’s person or their gun and the other end to the common float; or if using a slide ring on the float, the other divers gun or person.
Only one person at a time can take a turn diving in ‘True Pairs’ training and the non-diving buddy is responsible to watch over the position of the diving person at all times.
In deep water the divers are encouraged to swap over and communicate often enough to prevent either becoming fatigued.
Pairs should only dive depths that both are capable of.